Final answer:
Plants, algae, and phytoplankton are the main components of the fast carbon cycle. They capture energy and convert carbon dioxide into organic matter through photosynthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plants, algae, and phytoplankton are the main components of the fast carbon cycle. Phytoplankton, which are photosynthetic microscopic organisms in the surface waters of the oceans, capture approximately half of the energy that flows through the Earth's biosphere. They play a crucial role in the carbon cycle by converting carbon dioxide into organic matter through photosynthesis.
Plants and algae on land also play a significant role in the fast carbon cycle by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and incorporating it into their tissues. Furthermore, the rapid turnover of carbon in the fast carbon cycle, facilitated by phytoplankton, plants, and algae, contributes to the dynamic equilibrium of carbon fluxes between the atmosphere and living organisms, influencing global carbon balance.